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NEW (YORK STATE LOCAL HISTORY 
LEAFLETS 

PREPARED BY THE DIVISION OF 
ARCHIVES AND HISTORY 



THE EVENING SCHOOLS OF COLONIAL 
NEW YORK CITY 

ROBERT FRANCIS SEYBOLT PH. D. 



Reprinted front the Fifteenth Annual Report of the State Depart- 
ment of Education 



ALBANY 
,V 
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

I9JI 
Y25r-My2i-5O0 (7-1 610) 

Monograph 



Chapter 13 VXV^ 

THE EVENING SCHOOLS OF COLONIAL'^ 
NEW YORK CITY, 
(after 1664) 

ROBERT FRANCIS SEYBOLT PH. D. 

University of Wisconsin 

The principle of free schools is broad in its scope. It not only 
intends that educational opportunities should be afforded to the 
young in day schools but also that the many who, because of economic 
conditions, must leave school as soon as law permits, should likewise 
be afforded the opportunity of free schooling. It was appreciated 
a long time ago that many of these could not be reached in any other 
form of school except through evening schools. The history of the 
free school movement in this State would hardly be complete with- 
out a history of the evening schools inaugurated in the city of New 
York. 

The evening schools of New York City have a history well worth 
recording. Established in the seventeenth century, and continuing 
uninterruptedly to the present day, they have played a prominent 
part in the solution of the problem of providing education for all 
classes. The essential characteristics of evening school practice at 
the present time find their origins in the colonial period. 

There were several types of evening schools in colonial New 
York City. The available records indicate that the earliest, those 
of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, offered 
instruction only in the rudiments — reading, writing and cyphering. 
It is probable that these were attended exclusively by apprentices. 
In some few instances, adults may have received such evening 
instruction, but on this matter the records are silent. 

One of the earliest references to the practice of sending appren- 
tices to school, in New York City, occurs in a Harlem indenture 
dated November 25, 1690, in which the master promised that his 
apprentice " shall have the privilege of going to the evening school." 1 
According to a New York City indenture of October 1, 1698, the 
apprentice was to be given " his winter's schooling." 2 From 

'Harlem Records, II, 529. (Manuscript folio volume, owned by Title 
Guarantee and Trust Company of New York City.) 

2 Citty of N. Yorke Indentures, 'begun February 19, 1694 and ends Jan. 
ye 29th 1707, 47. (Manuscript folio volume, preserved at the city hall of 
New York City.) See also Harlem Records, II, 543; Citty of N. Yorke 

■ ; [rJ3fU 



LIBRARY Qf:CONQKIS| 
DOCUMENTS wiViUiQN 



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FREE SCHOOLS 63 1 



indentures of a later date we learn that the evening school was kept 
in the winter. An indenture of November 18, 1701 contains the 
provision : "in the Evenings to go to School each Winter to the 
End he may be taught to write and read." 3 In some instances the 
master promised to give his apprentice " One Quarter of a year's 
Schooling," 4 in others " Every winter three Months Evening School- 
ing." 5 An indenture dated January 20, 1720 combines the two 
preceding provisions into " a Quarter or three Months Schooling in 
every Winter." 6 And the particular three months, or quarter, dur- 
ing which the evening school was held is indicated in an indenture 
of February 24, 1719, in which the master agreed to " put him to 
school three Months in Every Year during the said apprenticeship 
Immediately after Christmas in Every Year to the Evening School 
to learn to Read and Write." 7 Frequently the indentures refer to 
these three months as " the usual times in the Winter Evenings," 
or the " Customary " period. 8 That the evening school was held 
only at this time is indicated by these references, and by an indenture 
of June 9, 1726, in which the apprentice is " to go to School during 
the time that is customary here to keep Night School." 

The records also reveal the fact that there was more than one 
evening school in New York City. An indenture of October 17, 
1705 contains the master's covenant "to lett him [the apprentice] 
have in Every Winter three Months Learning att any Evening School 
within this City, and to pay for the same." 10 Another master, in 

Indentures, 00, 81, 155; Lilier 29, 19, 7, 31, 60, 67, 73, 117, 230, for indentures 
of 1698-1724. (Manuscript folio volume, labeled "Liber 29," containing 
" Indentures Oct. 2, 1718 to Aug. 7, 1727. Library of N. Y. Hist. Soc.) 
s Citty of N. Yorke Indentures, 81. 

4 Ibid, 60. Indenture of Jan. 20, 1700. 

See also indentures of 1718-1726 in Liber 29, 1, 39, 14, 54, no, 123, 129, 
152, 156, 181, 196, 199, 220, 227, 241, 244, 261, 264, 266, 268, 270, 275, 284, 
286, 303, 312, 314, 324, 325, 327, 354, 358. 

5 Citty of N. Yorke Indentures, 62, 107, 128, 143, 158. 

See also indentures of 1 701-1726 in Liber 20, 3, 13, 44, 45, 55, 59, 70, 86, 90, 
102, 112, 119, 151, 158, 16S, 172, 216, 232, 239, 242, 320, 349. 

6 Liber 29, 94. 

7 Ibid, 55. See also Ibid, 123, indenture of July 30, 1705: "to allow him 
Evening Schooling Every Winter from Christmas as is Customary"; 139, 
indenture of Jan. 18, 1722: "Schooling in Winter Evenings from Christmas " ; 
289, indenture of June 1, 1725: "Every Quarter after Christmas"; 346, 
indenture of May 1, 1726; " Eavening scholling from Christemis Eavery year 
of the said term." 

8 Ibid, 34, 36, 102, 212, 216, 225. Indentures of 1717-1724. 
"Ibid, 318. 

10 Citty of N. Yorke Indentures, 128. 



632 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

1720, agreed to send his apprentice " One Quarter of a Year in 
Each Year, of the said Term to a good Evening School." 11 A 1690 
indenture mentioned above reveals the existence of an evening school 
in Harlem, which was within the jurisdiction of New York City. 

It may be fairly assumed that many New York apprentices went 
to evening schools. As a rule apprentices could not be spared dur- 
ing the day; they were more or less constantly employed by their 
masters. Thrifty schoolmasters keen to take advantage of this 
situation opened evening schools. The writer found one hundred 
eight indentures which contained provisions for sending apprentices 
to evening schools. Of this number, not one indicates that girls 
attended these schools. It is safe to say that they did not. Some 
few girl-apprentices did attend day schools, however. An indenture 
of June n, 1724 contains the following provision for a girl: 
" Schooling to Learn to read." 12 A certain number of apprentices, 
boys and girls, attending schools conducted by the Society for the 
Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign 'Parts, and it is probable that 
the education of many poor-apprentices was taken care of by this 
society. 

The province of New York made no provision for establishing 
free evening schools. These schools were privately conducted, and 
tuition fees were charged. It was customary for the master to pay 
all charges for the instruction of his apprentices. Sometimes this 
was specifically mentioned in the indenture: the master "shall at 
his own Charge put his said Apprentice to School." 13 In one 
instance the apprentice was " to go to the winter Evening School at 
the Charge of his father " 14 ; in another, it was agreed that the appren- 
tice should go to " Night School three Months in every Year dure- 
ing the said term his father to pay one halfe of Said Schooling and 
his Master the other halfe ; " 15 and in a third, he was " to go to 

"Liber 29, 80. 

12 Ibid, 218. 

13 Ibid, 36. Indenture of Aug. 1, 171?- 

Ibid, 128. Indenture of Oct. 17, 1705: master "to pay for the same"; 
14. Indenture of Dec. 4, 1717 ; 5. Indenture of Sept. 1, 1718: "at the Charge 
of the said Master"; 15. Indenture of Oct. 15, 1718; 90. Indenture of May 1, 
1719; 32. Indenture of Aug. 1, 1719; "Masters Cost and Charge"; 158. 
Indenture of Feb. 7, 1722; 236. Indenture of Feb. 26, 1723: "at my one Cost 
and Charge"; 327. Indenture of Nov. 26, 1725. 

"Ibid, 31. 

15 Ibid, 13. See also Citty of N. Yorke Indentures, 90. Indenture of Oct. 
20, 1701 : " the father shall provide and pay for two winters Nights scooling 
and his said Master Shall allow him two halfe Winters Schooling." 



FREE SCHOOLS 633 

School during the time that is customary here to keep Night School 
his friends paying for the same." 16 But these were exceptions ; the 
master in most cases assumed all expenses of maintaining and edu- 
cating his apprentices. 

The curriculum of the evening schools conformed to the educa- 
tional needs of the New York apprentice. According to the records, 
they offered instruction in reading, writing and cyphering. The evi- 
dence of the indentures indicates that these subjects were taught 
singly, or in any combination desired. An indenture of October 14, 
1700 provides for sending the apprentice to the " winter school to 
learn to read as long as the school time shall last." 17 In other in- 
stances the apprentice was permitted " in the evenings to go to School 
Each Winter to the End that he may be taught to zvrite and Read," 19 
or to " Learn Writing and Cyphering at the usuall Winter Seasons." 10 
The most popular provision, however, was : " One Quarter of a 
Year in Each Year of said Term to a good Evening School in Order 
to be well instructed in reading, writing Accounting and the like." 20 

16 Liber 29, 318. Indenture of June 29, 1726. 

17 Harlem Records, II, 543. 

18 Citty of N. Yorke Indentures, 81. Indenture of Nov. 18, 1701. See the 
following indentures in Liber 29: 

59 (Feb. 9, 1719) : " three Months to School to Learn to Write and Read." 
55 (Feb. 24, 1719) : "School . . . Every Year ... to learn to Read and 
Write." 

69 (Dec. 9, 1719) : " school at Suitable Times ... to learn to Read and 
Write." 
83 (Apr. 26, 1720) : " Schooling to Read and Write." 

119 (Nov. 18, 1720) : "Every Winter . . . Evening School ... to Read 
and Write." 

117 (Feb. 1, 1721) : "Evening Schooling ... to Read and write English." 
212 (July 10, 1722) : " to Read and write English ... in Winter Evenings." 
10 Liber 29, 36. Indenture of Aug. I, 1717. See the following in Liber 29: 
36 (Aug. 1, 1717) : " School to Learn Writing and Cyphering." 
78 (Apr. 16, 1718) : " Evening School ... to learn to write and cypher." 
34 (Aug. 6, 1719) : "write and cypher at the usual times in the winter." 
102 (May 1, 1720) : "School . . . Evenings to Learn Writing and Cypher- 
ing." 
193 (Sept. 1, 1723): "Night School . . . writeing and Arithmetick." 
20 Liber 29, 80. Indenture of Aug. 1, 1720. See the following in Liber 29: 
82 (Nov. 8, 1720): "Evening School . . . Reading and Writing and 
Arithmetick." 

190 (Nov. 6, 1722) : " Schooling to Read write and Arithmetick." 
241 (Jan. 31, 1723) : "Evening School to Read write and Cypher." 
197 (Aug. 1, 1723) : " School ... on Winter Evenings ... to Read write 
and Cypher." 



634 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

The purpose of this education for apprentices may be well expressed 
in the words of an indenture of December 7, 1724, which made 
provision for teaching the boy to " Read write and Cypher so far 
as will be Sufficient to Manage his Trade." 21 

It is interesting to note the content of the course in " cyphering," 
or arithmetic, pursued by the apprentice. A Westchester indenture 
of July 1, 1716 makes provision for teaching the apprentice to " Read 
Write & Cast Accompts to so far as the Rule of three." 22 Some- 
times this description was added to in the following manner: 
" Cypher as far as the rule of three direct inclusive." 23 The most 
complete statement of the composition of this subject occurs in a 
New York City indenture of May 20, 1720, in which the master 
agreed to provide instruction in " writing and cyphering So far as 
Addition Subtraction and Multiplication." 24 In some instances the 
apprentice was to be taught " to Cypher so as to keep his Own 
accounts, " 25 or " so far as he be able to keep his Booke. 26 

Obviously the evidence of the indentures of apprenticeship is 
somewhat incomplete. They indicate in a matter-of-course manner, 

266 (Dec. 25, 1723) : " Every Winter one Quarter ... to Read writ and 
Cypher." 

314 (Jan. 4, 1724) : " Every Winter . . . Eveven Skool ... to Read write' 
en syfer." 

225 (July 26, 1724) : " School ... in the Winter ... to Reade write and 
Cypher." 

278 (Oct. 5, 1724) : " Winters to School ... to Read write and Cypher." 

229 (Oct. 26. 1724) : "Winter Season ... to School ... to Reade write 
Cypher." 

280 (June 1, 1725) : " Reading writing and Cyphering at the Cost ... of 
Master." 

289 (June 1, 1725) : "to read and write . . . every Quarter . . . and Syfer 
two Quarters." 

a Liber 29, 282. 

83 Westchester Records, 1707-1720, 254^2. (Manuscript folio volume in 
New York Hall cf Records.) 

23 Flushing Town Records, 1790-1833, 104. Indenture of Oct. 31, 1816. 
See Ibid, 16. Indenture of Jan. 4, 1817: "to cypher as far as the rule of 
three direct." (Manuscript folio volume in N. Y. Hall of Records.) 

84 Liber 29, 97. 

35 Ibid, 276. Indenture of Feb. 1, 1722. 

24 Westchester Records, 1711-1730. July 23, 1725. (Manuscript folio 
volume in New York Hall of Records. Pages not numbered.) 

Huntington Town Records, II, 518. Indenture of Sept. 7, 1772: "to read 
write & Arethmatick so as to keep a good Book." 

(The material embraced by notes 1-26 is taken from R. F. Seybolt, Ap- 
prenticeship and Apprenticeship Education in Colonial New England and 
New York, N. Y., 1917.) 



FREE SCHOOLS 635 

that elementary evening schools were common during the period 
considered and that the customary curriculum comprised reading, 
writing and arithmetic. Additional light is thrown upon these 
schools by the newspapers ; in fact, for this purpose, they constitute 
our best sources. After the [ establishment of the first New York 
newspaper, in 1725, advertisements of evening schools are numerous, 
and by piecing them together we can build up a more complete 
account of the actual schools. 

In the New York Gazette of December 18, 1749, we find the 
following advertisement : 

Reading Writing and Arithmetick, taught by Thomas Evans, at the House 
of Mr. Bingham, Shoemaker, near the New-Dock, where he will give due 
Attendance for Night School, commencing the first Day of January next. 27 

From the New York Mercury of August 31, 1761, we learn that 
" Samuel Bruce . . . Opens his Night School in Wall Street, 
the 2 1 st of September next, where he continues teaching Reading, 
Writing, and Arithmetic in the best Manner," 28 and from the New 
York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, September 29, 1777, that 
Thomas Wiley, " Late Usher to Mr. Joseph Hildreth, Master of the 
Charity School," who taught " Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic," 
" has now opened his Night School." 29 

These advertisements not only contain information concerning 
the names of the schoolmasters, and the places where the schools 
were kept, but they reveal the fact that the earlier custom of con- 
ducting evening schools only during the winter, i. e., the " three 
Months . . . Immediately after Christmas," no longer 
obtained. 30 Two of the schools mentioned above opened in 
September, but the length of the term was not indicated in either 
case. It seems probable that by the middle of the eighteenth century, 
the demand for evening instruction of this character could not be 
satisfied by schools kept only during the winter season. School- 
masters, here and there in the city, were advertising longer periods 
of tuition. There was no uniformity in this matter; some taught 
the time-honored " quarter," and others six months, or even all year 
round. Hugh Hughes, in 1767, advertised that his school would 



27 Repeated in New York Gazette, Dec. 25, 1749; Jan. 1, Jan. 8, 1750. 

28 Repeated in New York Mercury, Sept. 7, Sept. 28, 1761. 

29 In 1779 Thomas Wiley opened his evening school, "opposite Trinity 
Church," on Sept. 20 (N. Y. Gazette and Weekly Mercury, Sept. 13, 1779) ; 
and in 1782, on Nov. 19 (Ibid, No. 4. 1782). 

30 See notes r-9. 



636 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

" commence the first of April next and continue to the first of 
October following." 31 A particularly pertinent advertisement, in 
this connection, is one inserted by Robert Leeth in the New York 
Evening Post, May 27, 1751 : 

I find it has been a Custom here immemorial, for School Masters to keep 
Evening Schools Winter only; But as it may suit many young People's Con- 
veniencies to write and cast Accompts at other Seasons of the Year, I do 
hereby give Notice that I intend to keep an Evening School from six 
o'Clock till Eight, the Year round. 32 

Additional material for our description of these schools is to be 
found in the following advertisement : 

New York, March 20, 1767. 

The Subscriber proposes to open a Morning and Evening School, for the 
Instruction of Youth in Writing, and Arithmetic, to commence the first of 
April next, and to continue to the first of October following. Attendance 
will be given from six to eight in the Morning, and from five to seven in 
the Evening precisely. It is imagined that this Plan may suit some of both 
Sexes, who attend other Places of Education at different Periods, for other 

Purposes 

Hugh Hughes." 

Here the hours of "Attendance " are indicated — " from five to 
seven." But it must not be inferred that there was any agreement,' 
on this matter, among the masters ; in fact, considerable variation 
obtained. The most popular hours, however, were from six to 
eight. 

Furthermore, this advertisement would seem to indicate that girls, 
as well as boys, attended evening schools. But a positive statement 
to this effect would not receive support from the sources. It is 
very probable that the girls attended the morning school, in this 
case. Many masters, during the eighteenth century, advertised morn- 
ing schools, or morning hours, for girls exclusively. 

Information concerning the rates of tuition in the elementary 
evening schools is not abundant. The writer was unable to find more 
than one advertisement containing the tuition fees of evening schools 
of this type. Robert Leeth, in 1752, taught "Writing at 9s. per 
Quarter; Vulgar and Decimal Arithmetick at 12s.," in his day school, 
and " Writing at 8s. per Quarter, and vulgar and decimal Arithmetick 

31 New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, April 16, 1767. This adver- 
tisement was written by Hughes on March 20, 1767. 

32 Repeated in New York Evening Post, June 3, 1751. (Stone Street.) 

33 New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, April 16, April 23, April 30, 
May 7, May 14, May 21, June 4, 1767. 



FREE SCHOOLS 637 

at 10s." in his evening school. 34 If we are justified in making any 
conclusion from this one document, we. may say that the evening 
rates were lower than those of the day school. 

More complete information on this matter is available for the 
practice of day schools, and it may be profitable to make a brief 
examination of their rates. In an elementary day school of 1735 
the master taught "Reading, Writing, and Arithmetick at very 
reasonable Terms, which is per Quarter for Readers 5s, for Writers 
8s., for Cypherers is." 35 Two years later, in 1737, one Joshua 
Ring advertised that he would " teach carefully (After the Easter 
Holidays) Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic at 12s. per Quarter; 
Reading and Writing at 10s." 36 Evidently Robert Leeth, in 1752, 
considered " writing at 8s. per Quarter " as fair a price as it was 
in 1735. The rate for arithmetic seems to have risen, but it is 
probable that with Leeth arithmetic was a more advanced subject 
than cyphering. In 1766, John Young " continues to teach as usual, 
Reading at 9s., Writing at ns., and Arithmetic at 13s. per 
Quarter," 37 and in 1776 Amos Bull taught "English Grammar, 
Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic ... at 25s. per Quarter for 
each Scholar." 38 If Leeth's advertisement represents a common 
practice, namely, of charging lower rates in the evening schools, it 
may be fairly assumed that the prevailing elementary evening school 
rates were slightly lower than those just examined. At any rate, the 
day school advertisements indicate approximately the current prices 
for the elementary subjects. 

Another type of evening school offered instruction in practical 
subjects of secondary grade, in addition to the rudiments. In these 
schools certain hours were set apart for those who were learning to 
read, write and cypher. In some, only the higher subjects were 
taught. The higher classes were patronised not only by older 
apprentices who had received an elementary education, but also by 
young men and adults of independent economic status. Like the 

"New York Gazette Revived in the Weekly Post Boy, Sept. 18, Sept. 25, 
Oct. 2, Oct. 9, Oct. 16, Oct. 23, Oct. 30, 1752. 

''■New York Gazette, July 14-21, July 21-28, July 28-Aug. 4. Aug. 4-", 
1735. (Smith Street.) 

36 New York Weekly Journal, April 4, 1737- ("lower End of Stone, 

Street ") 

37 New York Mercury, May 19, May 26, 1766. (French Church Street) 

38 New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, May 13, May 20, 1776. (King 
Street) 



638 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

evening schools of elementary grade, they were designed for " those 
who cannot spare time in 'the day time." 

As in the case of evening schools offering instruction only in the 
three R's, there was no agreement among the masters that all the 
evening schools in the city should begin their terms at the same 
time. Thomas Metcalfe, in 1747, conducted his evening school "all 
the Summer," 39 and in 1759, James and Samuel Giles also decided 
to keep theirs " during the Summer Season." 40 In most instances, 
however, these schools were advertised to begin in the months of 
September, 41 October, 42 and December, 43 and an appreciable number 
still observed the " Custom here immemorial " of running " during 
the Winter Season." 44 

In none of the advertisements of evening schools of this class is 
the length of the term definitely stated, but we may safely infer 
from evidence of several kinds that the schools were run on a 
quarterly plan. Some were kept " during the Winter Season," and 
others during the " Summer Season." It is very probable that the 

30 New York Evening Post, Aug. 3, 1747. (Wall Street) 

40 Parker's New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, April 30, May 14, 
May 21, May 28, 1759. (Maiden Lane) 

See also advertisements of John Nathan Hutchins (Courtlandt Street) in 
New York Mercury, April 25, May 2, 1763; and Thomas Carroll (Broad 
Street), in Ibid, May 6, May 13, May 20, 1765. 

41 New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, Aug. 14, Aug. 28, Sept. 4, 1758 
(Edward Willett, and George Adams, French Church Street) ; Ibid, Sept. 8, 
Sept. 15, Sept. 22, Oct. 6, Oct. 13, Oct. 20, Oct. 27, 1755 (James Wragg, Ferry 
Street) ; Ibid, Sept. 15, Sept. 19, Sept. 29, Oct. 6, Oct. 13, 1755 (John Searson, 
" opposite to the Post-Office ") ; New York Mercury, Sept. 7, Sept. 14, Sept. 
21, Dec. 7, Dec. 14, 1761 (James and Samuel Giles) ; Ibid, Sept. 7, 1761 (John 
Young) ; New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, Sept. 30, 1782 (J. Mennye, 
56 Beekman Street). 

42 Royal Gazette, Oct. 6, 178.1 (Mr. Davis, 63 Maiden Lane) ; Ibid, Oct. 18, 
Oct. 22, 1783 (J. Mennye, "32 Gold Street, Corner of Beekman Street"),* 
Pivington's New York Gazetteer, or Connecticut, New Jersey, Hudson's 
River, and Quebec Weekly Advertiser, Oct. 6, 1774 (Gollen and Mountain, 
"Crown Street, near the North River"); New York Gazette or Weekly 
Post Boy, Oct. 8, Nov. 26, 1753 (John Lewis). 

43 New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, Oct. 24, 1757 (Edward Willett, 
"next Door to Mr. Richards, in the Broadway"); New York Mercury, 
Nov. 10, 1766 (Thomas Carroll) ; Ibid, Nov. 23, 1761 (Thomas Johnson) ; 
New York Packet and American Advertiser, Fishkill, Nov. 20, 1783 (Edward 
Riggs, Little Queen Street). 

44 New York Gazette Revived in the Weekly Post Boy, Sept. 17, Sept. 24, 
I 75° (Gabriel Wayne, " near the Watch-House in the Broad Street,'' " during 



FREE SCHOOLS 639 

expressions " during the Summer Season," and " during the Winter 
Season," refer to the three months of summer, or winter. Further- 
more, in the advertisements that mention the rates of tuition, the 
various subjects were taught at so much " per Quarter." 

Similarly, when we attempt to ascertain the evenings of the week 
on which these schools were kept, we find that pertinent advertise- 
ments are not numerous. In some instances, instruction was given 
every evening, and in others, certain evenings were " excepted." 
From an advertisement of 1772, we learn that James Gilliland 
taught "every Evening." 45 We may infer that Mr. Evans, who 
advertised, in 1781, that he would teach "in the evenings," kept 
school every evening. 46 Some masters stated definitely that their 
schools would be open on certain evenings only ; James and Samuel 
Giles, in 1759, taught " in the evenings of all School Days, 
Wednesday and Saturday Evenings excepted ; " 47 and John Nathan 
Hutchins, in 1763, omitted " Saturday evenings." 48 

The hours of instruction were not uniform throughout the city. 
Thomas Metcalfe, in 1747, " proposes to teach an Evening School, 
beginning at five to be continued till Sunset." 49 In most cases the 
hours were definitely stated, as : " from 5 to 7 in the Evenings," 50 



the Winter Season ") ; Royal Gazette, Oct. 17, Oct. 20, Oct. 31, Nov. 21, 
1781 (Mr. Evans, 18 Great Dock Street, "during the winter"). 

See also New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, Dec. 12, 1768 (James 
Lamb, Rotten Row) ; Ibid, Jan. 12, Feb. 16, 1764 (William Cockburn, 
Hanover Square) ; New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, Dec. 14, Dec. 28, 
1772 (James Gilliland, " near the old City Hall ") ; Ibid, Jan. 14, Oct. 14, Oct. 
21, 1782 (Mr. Davis) ; Ibid, Jan. 1, Jan. 8, Jan. 15, Jan. 22, Jan. 29, 1770 
(George Robinson, Golden Hill) ; Ibid, Jan. 19, Jan. 26, 1778 (John Davis, 
"Maiden Lane between Nassau and William Streets") ; New York Gazette 
Revived in the Weekly Post Boy, Jan. 21, Jan. 28, 1751 (Benjamin Leigh and 
Garrat Noel, "lower End of Broad Street, near the Long-Bridge"); New 
York Gazette, Jan. 18, 1762 (Thomas Johnson, " almost opposite to Leonard 
Lispenard's ") ; Rivington's New York Gazetteer, or Connecticut, New Jersey, 
Hudson's River, and Quebec Weekly Advertiser, Jan. 12, Jan. 19, 1775 
(James Gilliland, Broad Street). 

45 New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, Dec. 14, Dec. 28, 1772. 

46 Royal Gazette, Oct. 17, Oct. 20, Oct. 31, Nov. 21, 1781. 

47 Parker's New York Gazette or W r eekly Post Boy, April 30, May 14, 
May 21, May 28, 1759. 

48 New York Mercury, April 25, May 2, 1763. 

49 New York Evening Post, Aug. 3, 1747. 

60 Parker's New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, April 30, May 14, May 
21, May 28, 1759 (James and Samuel Giles) ; New York Mercury, April 25, 
May 2, 1762 (John Nathan Hutchins). 



64O THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

" from 6 to 7 o'Clock," 51 " from 6 to 8," 52 and " from Six to 
Nine." 53 The most popular hours seem to have been from six to 
eight. 

Our chief interest is in the curriculum of these secondary evening 
schools. We shall find, upon examining the evidence of the adver- 
tisements, that these schools met the demand of a large class for 
practical instruction beyond the rudiments. In schools of this type, 
open during the day, as well as in the evening, the bookkeepers, 
merchants, surveyors and navigators of the period received their 
technical training. 

The typical curriculum of these secondary evening schools com- 
prised, in addition to the elementary subjects, bookkeeping, and the 
" practical Branches of the Mathematicks." Thomas Metcalfe's 
advertisement, of 1747, contains the simple statement that he would 
teach " Reading, Writing, Arithmetick, Mathematicks, &c." 54 For 
an interpretation of " Mathematicks &c." we must examine a more 
detailed advertisement, such as the following, of 1755: 

NOTICE is hereby GIVEN that 

JOHN SEARSON 

Who teaches School at the House of Mrs. Coon, opposite to the Post- 
Office, proposes (God Willing) to open an Evening School, on Thursday 
the 25th of this Instant September; where may be learn'd Writing, Arith- 
metick Vulgar and Decimal, Merchants Accounts, Mensuration, Geometry, 
Trigonometry, Surveying, Dialling, and Navigation, in a short, plain, and 
methodical Manner, and at very reasonable Rates. Said Searson having 
a large and commodious Room, together with his own diligent Attendance, 



"Royal Gazette, Oct. 17, Oct. 20, Oct. 31, Nov. 21, 1781 (Mr. Evans). 

63 New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, Jan. 1, Jan. 8, Jan. 15, Jan. 
22, Jan. 29, 1770 (George Robinson) ; Ibid, Dec. 14, Dec. 28, 1772 (James 
Gilliland) ; Ibid, Jan. 19, Jan. 26, 1778 (John Davis) ; Rivington's New York 
Gazetteer, or Conn., N. J., H. R., and Quebec Weekly Advertiser, Oct. 6, 
1774 (Gollen and Mountain). 

03 New York Mercury, May 6, May 13, May 20, Sept. 30, Oct. 7, 1765 
(Thomas Carroll). 

M New York Evening Post, Aug. 3, 1747. 

New York Gazette Revived in the Weekly Post Boy, Sept. 17, Sept. 24, 
1750. Gabriel Wayne taught " Reading, Writing, Arithmetick, Navigation." 

Ibid, Nov. 13, 1752. Nicholas Barrington (" near St. George's Chapel in 
Beekman's Street ") : " Reading, Writing, and Arithmetick, both Vulgar and 
decimal, as also Navigation and Merchants Accounts." 

New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, Oct. 8, Oct. 15, Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 
J 753- John Lewis: "Reading, writing, Arithmetic, Navigation, Surveying 
&c." 



FREE SCHOOLS 64I 

the Scholars will have it in their Power to make good Progress in a short 
Time." 

As early as 1723, John Walton taught, among other subjects, "Read- 
ing writing, Arethmatick, whole Numbers and Fractions, Vulgar and 
Decimal, The Mariners Art, Plain and Mercators Way; Also 
Geometry, Surveying." 56 Further enlightenment is supplied by the 
course of study advertised by James and Samuel Giles, in 1759, 
which included the subjects just mentioned, and, in addition, " Inter- 
est and Annuities," " Extraction of Roots of all Powers," " Men- 
suration of Superficies and Solids," " Book-Keeping in the true 
Italian Manner of Double Entry," " Guaging," "Algebra," " Conic 
Sections," and " &c.&c." 5T The curriculum of Benjamin Leigh and 
Garrat Noel, in 1751, contained " Geography and the Use of 
Globes," 58 and that of James Wragg, in 1755, "Astronomy." 59 
" Gunnery " is added by Edward Willett and George Adams, in 
I758, 60 and " Fortification," by William Cockburn, in 1764. 61 

An excellent summary of this comprehensive curriculum is given 
in Thomas Carroll's advertisement, of 1765. It follows: 

Taught by Thomas Carroll, At his Mathematical School, in Broad-street, 
in the City of New York. 

Writing, Vulgar and Decimal Arithmetic; the Extraction of the Roots; 
Simple and Compound Interest; how to purchase or sell Annuities, Leases 
for Lives, or in Reversion, Freehold Estates, &c. at Simple and Compound 
Interest; The Italian Method of Book-Keeping; Euclid's Elements of 
Geometry; Algebra and Conic Section; Mensuration of Superficies and Solids. 
Surveying in Theory, and all its different Modes in Practice, with two uni- 
versal Methods to determine the Areas of right lined Figures, and some 
useful Observations on the whole; Also Guaging, Dialling, Plain and Spheric 
Trigonometry, Navigation ; the Construction and Use of the Charts, and 
Instruments necessary for keeping a Sea-Journal (with a Method to keep 

65 New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, Sept. 15, Sept. 19, Sept. 29, Oct. 
6, Oct. 13, 1755. 

Ibid, April 7, April 21, May 5, 1755. James Wragg: " Writing, Arithmetick. 
Merchants Accounts, Navigation, Surveying, Mensuration, Guaging, Dialing, 
and Astronomy." 

66 American Weekly Mercury Philadelphia, Oct. 17-24, Oct. 24-31, Oct. 31- 
Nov. 7, 1723. 

" Parker's New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, April 30, May 14, May 
21, May 28, 1750. 

GS New York Gazette Revived in the Weekly Post Boy, Jan. 21, Jan. 28, 
1751. The curriculum of this school included " a new invented Short-Hand." 

69 New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, July 14, July 28, Aug. 4, Aug. 
11, Aug. 18, Sept. 1, 1755- 

60 New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, Aug. 14, Aug. 28, Sept. 4, 1758. 

81 Ibid, Jan. 12, Feb. 16, 1764. 



642 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

the same, were the Navigator deprived of his Instruments and Books &c. 
by any Accident) the Projection of the Sphere, according to the Ortho- 
graphic and Stereographic Principles ; Fortification, Gunnery, and Astron- 
omy; Sir Isaac Newton's Laws of Motion; the mechanical Powers, viz. The 
Balance, Lever, Wedge, Screw, and Axes in Peritrochio explained, Being 
not only an Introduction necessary to the more abstruse Parts of Natural 
and Experimental Philosophy, but also to every Gentleman in Business. 

He will lecture to his Scholars, every Saturday, on the different Branches 
then taught in his School, the Advantage of which may in a little Time, 
make them rather Masters (of what they are then learning) than Scholars. 
He invites Gentlemen to visit his School, and be Judges of the Progress 
his Pupils will make, and the Benefit they must receive from him. 

He will attend a Morning School in Summer from 6 to nine for young 
Ladies only, from Nine to Twelve and from Two P.M. to Five for all 
others who choose to attend ; and a Night School from Six to Nine for 
young Gentlemen; or he will divide the time in any other Way, if thought 
more agreeable. Young Gentlemen and Ladies may be instructed in the 
more easy and entertaining Parts of Geography with the true Method of 
drawing the Plan of any Country &c. without which they cannot properly 
(be said to) understand that useful Branch of Knowledge; during this 
Course, Care will be taken to explain the true Copernican or Solar System, 
the Laws of Attraction, Gravitation, Cohesion &c. in an easy and familiar 
Manner, and if he is encouraged to purchase proper Apparatus, he will 
exhibit a regular Course of experimental Philosophy. He will not accept 
any but decent Scholars, nor crowd his School with more than he can teach 
at a Time. On this plan, if the Gentlemen of this City are convinced of the 
vast Utility it must be to the Youth here, and are of the Opinion that he 
may be a useful Member amongst them, and encourage him as such, he 
will do all in his Power to merit their Approbation, and give general Sat- 
isfaction ; but if otherwise, he will accept of any Employment in the Writing 
Way, settling Merchant's Accounts, drawing Plans, &c. or of a decent Place 
in the Country till the Return of the Vessels from Ireland, to which he has 
warm Invitations. He must observe that he was not under the Necessity of 
coming here to teach, he had Views of living more happy, but some unfore- 
seen and unexpected Events have happened since his Arrival here, which is 
the Reason of his Applying thus to the Publick. 

N.B. Mrs. Carroll proposes teaching young Ladies plain Work, Samples, 
French Quilting, Knotting for Bed Quilts, or Toilets, Dresden, flowering on 
Cat Gut, Shading (with Silk, or Worsted) on Cambrick, Lawn, and Hol- 
land. 62 



62 New York Mercury, May 6, May 13, May 20, Sept. 30, Oct. 7, 1765. 

See also detailed advertisements of J. N. Hutchins, in New York Mercury, 
April 25, May 2, 1763; and J. Mennye, in Royal Gazette, Oct. 18, Oct. 22, 
1783. J. Mennye's advertisement contains the following: "And in order that 
no Part may be wanting, the Method of making Logarithms to any Number 
of Places will be taught in as extensive a Manner as they have hitherto 
been in any University in Europe ; And whoever may be curious in these 
Arts, will be taught the Construction of his Mathematical Instruments, by 
which Means he can always prove any Instrument already made." 



FREE SCHOOLS 643 

It is not known whether this school was actually established in 1765, 
but from an advertisement of November 10, 1766, we learn that 
" Thomas Carroll has opened a night school." 63 

It may not be inappropriate, at this point, to set out an interesting 
advertisement written by Mr Davis, in 1781. The item follows: 

EDUCATION 

Evening School, by Mr. Davis 
in Maiden Lane, No. 63. 
Where is taught Reading, a grace of the schools, 
Writing, Arithmetic by easy rules, 
Book-keeping, Geometry, too very plain, 
And Navigation to steer o'er the main : 
Surveying and Mensuration as well, 
With rare Algebra to make you excell. 
All those — and more he has got in his plan, 
To rouse the genius, and furnish the man. 

The Pupils may depend on an easy, elegant, perspicuous explication of 
things, being most conducive to rouse the genius, and invigorate the thought, 
or to inspire the mind, with a true and lively sense of what is taught, which 
cannot fail to enrich it with fruitful ideas; and as they shoot will not only 
be cherished, but made to flc urish. 64 

In most advertisements of the colonial period, and in all colonies, 
merchant's accounts, or bookkeeping, was taught " after the Italian 
Method of double Entry." An interesting exception to, and criti- 
cism of, this method is to be found in an advertisement of 1770: 

This is to inform the Public, That George Robinson, Late of Old Eng- 
land, purposes opening an EVENING SCHOOL, at his house on Golden 
Hill, New York, January the 8th for book-keeping as used in London, 
either in the wholesale or retail way : Has practised it upwards of twenty 
years, having served an apprenticeship in the mercantile way, and ever after 
constantly used to it. Presumes it necessary almost every Person intended 

63 New York Mercury, Nov. 10, 1766. 
"Royal Gazette, Oct. 6, 1781. 

Appended to Mr. Davis' notice of 1782, in New York Gazette and Weekly 
Mercury, Jan. 7, Jan. 14, Oct. 14, Oct. 21, 17S2, is the following: 

" These lively fields pure pleasures do impart, 

The fruit of science, and each useful art, 
Which forms the mind, and clears the cloudy sense, 

T.y truth's powerful pleasing eloquence. 
Ye hopeful youths, be sensible of this, 

O! mark the fleeting time and profer'd bliss, 
The only time when learning makes it way 

Thro' dark ignorance, brightening into day; 
Bright'ning into day, you'll in knowledge shine . 

Full orb'd with wisdom to the human mind 
Ye hopeful Youths, come learn what he has told 

Exalt your Minds and be what ye behold; 
While Genius soaring, great Heights explore, 

And grace your Talents with true Beauties o'er, 
Till ornamented with the Flowers of Truth, 

Ye shine bright Patterns for unlearned Youth." 



644 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

for business should learn a course of book-keeping; but begs leave to say, 
not in the customary way: Witness the complaints among merchants and 
tradesmen, that the boys when they first come to business, are almost as 
ignorant in the management of their books as if they had never learnt any 
method. There is boys who have not had time to learn, or perhaps a 
capacity to understand a compleat course of the Italian, which is commonly 
promiscuously alone taught to all ; there are also many intended for such 
business as that the Italian method is thrown away upon them. Hours 
from 6 to S. 6G 

Mr Davis, in 1782, taught " Book-keeping in an exemplary manner, 
so that the Book-keeper can adapt his ideas to any circumstance in 
trade and business." 06 

The practical purpose of trigonometry is seen in its relation to 
navigation and surveying. In the courses of study examined, it 
was usually allied with these two subjects. Several interesting 
records indicate this relationship. In advertisements of 1753 and 
1754, John Lewis informs us that " What is called a new Method of 
Navigation, is an excellent method of Trigonometry here particularly 
applied to Navigation; But is of great Use in all kinds of Measuring 
and in solving many Arithmetical Questions." 67 William Cockburn, 
in 1764, taught " Trigonometry, with its Application to the taking of 
Heights and Distances . . . Spherical Trigonometry, with its 
Application to Great Circle Sailing and Astronomy." 68 

In some instances the " Theory of Surveying " was taught, in 
others, " both theoretical and practical." Obviously, the " Theory 
of Surveying " could easily be taught within doors. How the sub- 
ject was taught in a practical manner is indicated by but one adver- 
tisement. John Nathan Hutchins, in 1763, announced, in an adver- 
tisement of his day school, that " Young Gentlemen inclined to 
learn Surveying, will be instructed in the Practick as well as the 
Theorical Part, he being provided with Chain and Compass, and 
has obtained Liberty of exercising his Scholars on a convenient 
Tract of Land not far distant." 69 

More detailed information is available for the course in naviga- 
tion. By putting together the significant portions of many evening 
school advertisements, we are able to get a fairly adequate notion of 

65 New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, Jan. 1, Jan. 8, Jan. 15, Jan. 22, 
Jan. 29, 1770. 

06 Ibid, Jan. 7, Tan. 14, Oct. 14, Oct. 21, 1782. 

67 New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, Dec. 24, 1753; Ibid, Jan. 7, 
Jan. 14, Jan. 21, 1754. 

68 Ibid, Jan. 12, Feb. 16, 1764. 

69 New York Mercury, April 25, May 2, 1763. 



FREE SCHOOLS 645 

the scope of this subject. John Walton, in 1723, taught " The 
Mariners Art, Plain and Mercators Way." 70 From an advertisement 
of 1763, we learn that John Nathan Hutchins taught " Navigation 
by all the various Ways ever yet taught, whether Tabular, Loga- 
rithmetical, or Instrumental, also without the Help of Books or 
Scales. Gentlemen Mariners &c 5 may be taught the making and 
Use of all Sorts of Charts, Plain or Globular." 71 Further evidence 
of the practical character of the subject is supplied by an advertise- 
ment of 1764, in which the master proposed to teach " Navigation 
after an easy Method, by which a Man may be able to work a Day's 
Work in a few Weeks ; also a new Method of observing the Latitude 
at any Time of Day, so very much wanted in thick Weather at 
Noon." 72 Some masters were able to give their students the bene- 
fit of actual experience; James Lamb, in 1768, announced that "he 
has had 16 years Experience at Sea," and " flatters himself he can 
render Navigation (in some Measure) familiar to the young Navi- 
gator the first Voyage." 73 Mr Davis, in 1782, advertised that he 
would teach " Practical Navigation by the most expeditious and 
approved methods, whereby the Navigator can never be at a loss 
upon any occasion, to find the ship's place, by dead reckoning and 
celestial observation, and to this purpose also are taught the doctrine 
of the Orthographic and Stereographic Projections of the Sphere, 
Spheric Trigonometry, with its application to Astronomy, by which 
he will be led to the summit of his wishes, it being supposed, a 
thorough knowledge of the New Method of finding the Latitude 
by two altitudes of the Sun, and of finding the Longitude by the 
Moon's distance from the Sun, &c." 74 



70 American Weekly Mercury, Philadelphia, Oct. 17-24, Oct. 24-31, Oct. 
31-Nov. 7, 1723. 

71 New York Mercury, April 25, May 2, 1763. 

Royal Gazette, Oct. 18, Oct. 22, 1783. " The method of making a chart 
fitted to any Voyage, or to any extent of Land and Water." (J. Mennye) 

"New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, Jan. 12, Feb. 16, 1764 (William 
Cockburn). 

"Ibid, Dec. 12, 1768. 

"New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, Jan. 7, Jan. 14, Oct. 14, Oct. 21, 
1782. 

An advertisement of 1781 mentions this new method of " finding the 
latitude by two Altitudes of the Sun, and the longitude by the distance of 
the Moon from the Sun," and informs us that it was described in " John 
Hamilton Moore's Navigation." (Royal Gazette, Oct. 17, Oct. 20, Oct. 31, 
Nov. 21, 1781) 

See also J. Mennye's advertisement in the Royal Gazette, Oct. 18, Oct. 22, 
1783. "Navigation, together with the new Method of finding the Latitude 



646 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

The evening school advertisements examined do not contain infor- 
mation concerning the fees for instruction in the practical subjects. 
Nothing more definite appears than the expressions " reasonable," 75 
" all at reasonable Rates," 76 and " upon very reasonable Terms." 77 
We must again rely upon the evidence of the advertisements of day 
schools. Robert Leeth, in 1752, taught " Book Keeping after the 
true Italian Method," for £4, " The Art of Navigation " for 
£3, and " Mensuration of Superficies and Solids, Surveying, &c 
&c. at a Price in Proportion to the other Branches of the Mathemat- 
icks." 78 If £4 was the prevailing rate for double-entry bookkeep- 
ing, it remained constant during the next fourteen years, at least; 
John Young, in 1766, advertised " Common Accounts for 40s.. 
Merchants ditto after the Italian method for £4." 79 The incomplete- 
ness of the records makes it impossible to quote the fees for other 
secondary subjects. 

In New York City there were many evening schools other than 
those belonging strictly to the types just considered. An interest- 
ing type was the evening academy , so a good illustration of which is 
given in the. following advertisement : 

There is a school in New York, in the Broad Street, near the Exchange, 
where Mr. John Walton, late of Yale Colledge, Teacheth Reading, Writing, 
Arethmatick, whole Numbers and Fractions, Vulgar and Decimal, The 
Mariners Art, Plain and Mercators Way; Also Geometry, Surveying, the 
Latin Tongue, the Greek and Hebrew Grammers, Ethicks, Rhetorick, Logick, 
Natural Philosophy and Metaphysicks, all or any of them for a Reasonable 
Price. The School from the first of October till the first of March will be 
tended in the Evening. If any Gentlemen in the Country are disposed to 
send their Sons to the said School, if they apply themselves to the Master 
he will immediately procure suitable Entertainment for them, very Cheap. 
Also if any Young Gentlemen of the City will please to come in the Evening 



will be taught in a short Time to those who are already acquainted with 
Figures." 

Messrs. Gollen and Mountain, in 1774, taught " the use of Davis's and 
Hadley's quadrants." (Rivington's N. Y. Gazetteer, or Conn., N. J., H. R., 
and Quebec Advertiser, Oct. 6, 1774) 

' s New York Gazette or W r eekly Post Boy, Sept. 8, Sept. 15, Sept. 22, 
Oct. 6, Oct. 13, Oct. 20, Oct. 27, 1755. (James Wragg) 

'"New York Mercury, April 25, May 2, 1763. (J. N. Hutchins) 

" New York Packet and American Weekly Advertiser, Fishkill, Nov. 20, 
1783. (Riggs) 

78 New York Gazette Revived in the Weekly Post Boy, Sept. 8, Sept. 15, 
Oct. 2, Oct. 9, Oct. 16, Oct. 23, Oct. 30, 1752. 

'"New York Mercury, May 19, May 26, 1766 

80 The term is here used in the traditionally accepted sense. 



FREE SCHOOLS 647 

and make some Tryal of the Liberal Arts, they may have oppertunity of 
Learning the same Things which are commonly Taught in Colledges. 81 

This is the earliest available record of an academy in New York 
City, and the fact that it had evening, as well as day, classes, makes 
it doubly interesting. 

Evening schools offering instruction in the ancient and modern 
languages were by no means uncommon. In Thomas Metcalfe's 
advertisement, of 1747, we find the statement that "At the Same 
Place in a separate Apartment will be taught Greek, Latin, Rhetoric, 
Prosody by a Person lately arrived from London, thoroughly 
acquainted with Classical Authors." 82 In addition to teaching the 
rudiments, Garrat Noel, in I75I, 83 gave instruction in Spanish, 
Thomas Ross, in 1754, French, Low-Dutch, and Latin, 84 and 
Timothy Wetmore, in 1777, Latin and Greek. 85 In schools 
emphas'zing the practical subjects. Gabriel Wayne, in 1750, taught 
Latin, 86 and Benjamin Leigh and Garrat Noel, in 175 1, Latin, Greek 
French, and Portuguese. 87 John L. Mayor, in 1753, offered courses 
only in French, Latin and Greek, 88 and Anthony Fiva, in 1774, in 
English, French, Spanish, and Italian. 89 Fiva taught these subjects 
with the view of fitting " his pupils in a short time to carry on an 
epistolary correspondence, so useful particularly to young persons 
in business." 

Other subjects that appear in the curriculums of the period are 
English, geography and history. English was usually taught 
" grammatically ; " in fact, grammar as a foundation for all higher 
work in " English reading and speaking " received a great deal of 
attention at this time. A long advertisement of Hugh Hughes's plan, 

81 American Weekly Mercury, Philadelphia, Oct. 17-24, Oct. 24-31, Oct. 
31-Nov. 7, 1723. 

"New York Evening Post, Aug. 3, 1747. 

83 New York Gazette Revived in the Weekly Post Boy, Sept. 2, Sept. 9, 
Sept. 16, Sept. 23, 1751. (Beaver Street) 

84 New York Mercury, Oct. 7, 1754 ("opposite the Merchant's Coffee 
House "). 

85 New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, Jan. 27, 1777 (" two Doors 
below Peck's Slip"). 

86 New York Gazette Revived in the Weekly Post Boy, Aug. 13, Aug. 27, 
1750. 

"Ibid, Jan. 21, Jan. 28, 1751. 

88 New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 1753 ("near 
the Long Bridge"). 

89 Rivington's New York Gazetteer, or Conn., N. J., H. R., and Quebec 
Weekly Advertiser, May 19, May 26, 1774. 



64S THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

in 1772, throws considerable light upon the methods of teaching the 
subject. 

To the PUBLIC 
THE SUBSCRIBER proposes, if encouraged, to teach the English Lan- 
guage grammatically. And, for the Satisfaction of those who may be dis- 
posed to encourage such a necessary Mode of Education as that of instruct- 
ing Youth in the grammatical Knowledge of their native Tongue, confess- 
edly is, he gives the following sketch of a Plan which he has adopted. 
When the Pupil can read fluently and write a legible Hand, he will be taught 
the English Accidence, or the Properties of the Parts of Speech, as divided 
and explained in the latest and most eminent English Grammarians ; that is 
DOCTOR LOWTH, and DOCTOR PRIESTLY, and others. After which 
he will be taught how to parse disjunctively, then modally, and instructed 
in the Rules of English Syntax; and, when he is sufficiently skilled in them 
to account for the Construction of the Sentences in general, he will receive 
Lessons of false Spelling and irregular Concord &c. taken from some classic 
Author, but rendered ungrammatical for the Purpose of trying his Judg- 
ment. When he has reduced these as near their Originals, as his Knowl- 
edge of Grammar will permit, he will be shown all such irregularities as 
may have escaped his Notice, either in the orthographical or syntactical Part. 
These Lessons will also be selected from different Authors on various Sub- 
jects; and frequently from the Works of those who are the most celebrated 
for the Elegance of their Epistolary Writings; as this Kind of Composition 
is acknowledged to be as difficult as any, and of greater utility. The erro- 
neous Part in every Lesson will likewise be modified. At one Time, it will 
consist of false Spelling alone. At another of only false Concord. The 
next perhaps, will consist of both. The 4th may not be composed of either 
of them, but may contain some Inaccuracies or Vulgarisms &c. The 5th 
may retain all the foregoing Improprieties, and the last, none of them, of 
which the Pupil needs not to be apprised, for Reasons that are too evident 
to require a Recital. To the preceding Exercises will succeed others on the 
Nature and Use of Transposition — The Ellipses of all Parts of Speech, 
as used by the best Writers, together with the Use of synonymous Terms — 
A general Knowledge of all which joined to Practice, will enable Youth to 
avoid the many orthographical Errors, Barbarisms, inelegant Repetitions, 
and manifest Solecisms, which they are otherwise liable to run into, and in 
Time, render them Masters of an easy elegant Style by which Means they 
will become capable of conveying their Sentiments with Clearness and Pre- 
cision, in a concise and agreeable manner; as well with Reputation to them- 
selves, as Delight to their Friends — Lastly tho' the pointing of a Discourse 
requires riper Judgment, and a more intimate Acquaintance with the syn- 
tactical Order of Words and Sentences than the Generality of Youth can 
be possessed of, to which may be added the unsettled State that Punctua- 
tion itself is really in; so that very few precise Rules can be given, without 
numerous Exceptions, which would rather embarrass than assist the 
Learner : Yet, some general Directions may be given, in such a Manner as 
greatly to facilitate so desirable an Acquisition ; and they will be attended 
to on the Part of the Tutor, in Proportion to the Susception of the Pupil. 



FREE SCHOOLS 649 

But he doth not mean to insinuate that the most tractable of mere Youth 
can be perfected in all the Varieties of the Language in a few Quarters, as 
Perfection is net to be acquired by Instruction alone, any more than it is by 
Practice without Instruction. On the Contrary he knows that it is a Work 
which requires considerable Time and close Application, on the Part of the 
Pupil as well as great Care and Much Labour, on the Part of the Teacher ; 
and that all hasty Performances in Grammar, have a greater Tendency to 
raise a slender Superstructure, than lay a permanent Foundation. Much 
more might be said on the Advantage resulting from this Mode of Educa- 
tion, were they not so very plain, that they scarcely require mentioning, and 
that this is only a Sketch. However, ii may not be amiss to observe, that 
the Pupils by continually searching of their Dictionaries, in Quest of Primi- 
tives and their Derivatives, as well as the constituent Parts of compound 
Terms; besides learning the Dependence that native Language has on itself; 
will also treasure up in their Memories a vast Stock of Words from the 
purest Writers And, what is of infinitely more Value, their just Definitions, 
as every One of this Class will have Johnson's Dictionary in Octavo. There- 
fore, if it be true, that ' He who knows most Words, will have most Ideas,' 
and that on the ' Right Apprehension of Words depends the Rectitude of our 
Sentiments,' May it not be presumed, that such a Plan, in its full Extent. 
bids fair for improving the Minds of Youth in Necessary Knowledge, and 
consequently, is likely to produce intelligent Men and useful Citizens? The 
Consideration of which, is, with all due Deference most humble submitted 
to the respectable Public; by its greatly obliged and very humble Servant, 

H. Hughes. 

P.S. He intends, as soon as Opportunity will permit, to publish a Series 
of Ratios; calculated for converting, by Multiplication alone, any Sum of 
New York Currency or the Currency of any other Colony, into Sterling; but 
may be equally useful for finding the Value of a lower Currency in a higher; 
when the difference between them increases, or decreases, as it does between 
Sterling and Currency. 

N.B. His Night School will be opened on Monday Evening the 6th of 
Jan. 1772/' 

Messrs Gollen and Mountain, in 1774, taught "the method of read- 
ing and writing the English language with propriety, so as to avoid 
a vitiated pronunciation and a false orthography, qualifications too 
often neglected in the education of youth." 91 John Davis, in 1778. 
exercised " the greatest care, not only that they shall learn to read 
grammatically, but he taught properly and syntactically ; whence they 
can discover the beauty and elegance of their mother tongue ; that 
they may be able to construe what they read, thro' every part of 
speech. Bv this means, the scholar is fully taught to understand 

90 New York Cazette and Weekly Mercury, Dec. 30, 1771 ; Ibid, Jan. 6, 
Jan. 13, Jan. 20, Jan. 27, 1772. 

91 Rivington's New York Gazetteer, or Conn., N. J., H. R., and Quebec 
Weekly Advertiser, Oct. 6, 1778. 



65O THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

the science of what he reads; &, is enable to express himself with 
propriety." 92 

Another popular type of evening school, for " Young Gentlemen 
and Misses and Adults of both Sexes," was the " French Night 
School." The records indicate, that by the middle of the century, 
French was considered a " very fashionable and necessary language." 
A notice of 1757 informs us that " Young Gentlemen and Ladies 
may be taught the FRENCH language in a Manner the most modern 
and expeditious, by one lately arrived from London, who has made 
his Tour through France." 93 John Girault, in 1773, instructed " his 
pupils in all the variations of this polite tongue, after the rules of 
the most approved grammars, founded on the decisions of the 
Academy at Paris." 94 

112 New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, Jan. 19, Jan. 26, 1778. 

See also the Royal Gazette, Oct. iS, Oct. 22, 1783. " J. Mennye, At No. 32 
Gold-Street, Corner of Beekman-Street, proposes to open an Evening School, 
the 21st Instant; in which, and in the Day-School, the following Branches 
of Education will be taught : The English Language agreeable to the Rules 
laid down by the most approved Grammarians, and that the Memory may be 
as little burthened as possible, the Rules are compressed in as few Words as 
the Nature of the Subject will permit; and, in order that no Inconveniency 
may arise from this Conciseness, a greater Variety and Number of Examples 
are given to the Scholars, by way of Exercises than are to be met with in 
any English Grammar yet published; Besides, that no Illustration of the 
Rules which can possible be wanting, many Passages will be produced from 
our most celebrated Authors, to prove, that they themselves, have in many 
Instances, proved themselves to have been ignorant or inadvertant to several 
of the Rules which are now universally received as Canons; whence this 
Inference may fairly be drawn, that English Grammar has hitherto been too 
much neglected." 

83 New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, Oct. 17, Oct. 24, Nov. 21, Nov. 
28, Dec. 19, 1757. 

Ibid, Jan. 30, Feb. 6, Feb. 20, March 6, 175S (John Philipse: "every 
Evening, from the Hour of Five till Eight"). 

New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, Jan. 10, 17S0. " THE FRENCH 
LANGUAGE Taught in the most perfect and easy Manner, by THOMAS 
EGAN Whose residence for many years in some of the first compting-houses 
in France, enables him to assure those Ladies and Gentlemen, who please 
to receive his instructions, that they will not be disappointed in his abilities." 
(30 King Street) 

94 Rivington's New York Gazetteer, or Conn., N. J., H. R., and Quebec 
Weekly Advertiser, Sept. 16, Sept. 23, Oct. 7, Oct. 14, 1773. 

New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, Sept. 9, Sept. 16, Sept. 23, 1771 ; 
Ibid, Sept. 7, Sept. 14, Sept. 21, Oct. 12, Oct. 19, 1772 (John Girault, "upper 
End of Stone Street"). 

Rivington's New York Gazetteer, or Conn., N. J., H. R., and Quebec 
Weekly Advertiser, Oct. 26, Nov. 9, Nov. 16, 1775. Francis Vandale, " next 
door to Mr. Rivington," taught " French and other languages." 



FREE SCHOOLS 65^ 

The advertisements do not give definite information concerning 
the rates of instruction in the languages. Francis Vandale, in 1775, 
in his " day and evening school," taught " French and other 
languages ... at very reasonable rates, " i. e., £2 " a piece 
(y 2 entrance) a quarter." 95 More detailed, but equally indefinite, 
information is available for the tuition fees of day schools. Robert 
Leeth, in 1751, taught " Latin, Greek, and the most useful Branches 
of the Mathematicks at a Pistole per Quarter, exclusive of a Pistole 
Entrance as has always been the Custom at Grammar Schools in 
this City." 90 William Clajon, in 1766. announced that "My terms 
are as follows, viz. For the French, Latin and Greek Languages, 
besides English Grammar, &c. . . 36s. entrance and 20s. per 
Quarter. . . I will teach . . . for 24s per Month, and 24s 
entrance, those of riper Years who incline to learn the French 
Language." 97 In the same year, Edward Riggs taught " the Latin 
and Greek languages . . . rhetoric, geography, &c. . . with- 
out entrance," for " five pounds a year." 98 Josiah Stoddard, in 
1770, gave instruction in the " Latin and Greek Languages . . . 
for the small sum of four or five and twenty pounds per ann," 99 
and John Copp, in 1774, announced that for " the Latin and Greek 
languages, and arithmetic. . . Reading, and Writing, and the 
principles of English grammar. . . The price of tuition will 
not exceed fifteen dollars yearly; no entrance fee expected." 100 

The evening school of colonial New York was a unique institu- 
tion. Whatever its type, it provided " at convenient Hours," for 
those " who cannot attend in the Day Time." In some cases it was 
patronised by pupils who attended " other Places of Education at 
different Periods, for other purposes." From these standpoints alone 
it rendered a distinct service to the period in widening the scope of 
educational opportunity. 

The most popular evening school was the one that gave instruc- 



95 Rivington's New York Gazetteer, or Conn., N. J., H. R,, and Quebec 
Weekly Advertiser, Oct. 26, Nov. 9, Nov. 16, 1775. 

M New York Gazette Revived in the Weekly Post Boy. Sept. iS, Sept. 25, 
Oct. 2, Oct. g, Oct. 16, Oct. 23, Oct. 30, 1752. 

97 New York Mercury, May 19, May 26, 1766. (" Consistory Room of the 
French Church ") 

1,8 Ibid, May 26, 1766. (Kingston) 

99 New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, Oct. 22, Oct. 29, Nov. 5, Nov. 
26, 1770. (Kingston) 

100 Rivington's New York Gazetteer, or Conn., N. J., H. R., and Quebec 
Weekly Advertiser, July 7, July 14, July 21, 1774. (Flatbush) 



LIBKHKY Uh ^UlNUKtao 



652 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW q q^2 118 182 7 

tion in the " practical branches." New York was a city of many 
trade and commercial activities, operating on land and sea; and the 
advertisements indicate that higher technical instruction was needed 
to prepare young men for these pursuits. Trade-training was pro- 
vided by the apprenticeship system, but that institution could not 
adequately equip apprentices " for business either as mechanic, 
merchant, seaman, engineer, etc." 101 Very few men, outside the 
teaching profession were capable of giving thorough courses in 
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, astronomy, geography, 
navigation, surveying, bookkeeping etc. ; and fewer could spare the 
time. Furthermore, merchants, engineers and ship-owners were 
demanding that the young men entering their employ, have this 
technical preparation. Undoubtedly, these schools exercised an 
appreciable influence in the direction of raising the " entrance 
requirements " of many pursuits. They were the commercial schools, 
or business colleges, of the colonial period. Their contribution con- 
stitutes a valuable chapter in the history of trade, as well as in the 
history of education, in colonial New York City. 

vn New York Mercury, May 6, May 13, May 20, Sept. 30, Oct. 7, 1765. 



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